Raphael was born on April 6, 1483 in Urbino, Italy. Urbino was a cultural center that encouraged the arts. Raphael's father, Giovanni Santi, was a painter to the Duke of Urbino. Giovanni taught Raphael the basic techniques and principles of painting at the court of the Duke of Urbino. Giovanni died when Raphael was just 11 years old. He took over his father's shop and it became his. Raphael was known as the city's most famous painter. When he was a teenager he was assigned the task of painting for the Church of Nicola a Castello. In 1500, Perugino, another famous painter, invited Raphael to be his apprentice in Pergina. In Perugia Perugino was working on the frescoes of the Collegio del Cambia. This experience lasted four years and Raphael gained more knowledge and practical experience. During this period, Raphael developed his unique painting style. Raphael managed to develop a personal and expressive style that manifested itself in his earlier paintings. In 1504-1507 Raphael created a series of "Madonnas" linked to the work of Leonardo Di Vinci. In 1507 Raphael created his most ambitious work ...